At a time when Freedom is the most discussed subject, and yet least understood. At a time when the need for medical advances is most urgent, and yet the field is most strangled. And at a time when relationships are most fragile, there could not have been a better read. What follows is my review of No Time To Dieby Kira Peikoff.

THEME

What Freedom is, and what it is not? What are the consequences of having and not having freedom? And what are the prerequisites of Freedom?

PLOT-THEME

Coercive regulations, too much government interference, sensation and propaganda driven mainstream media. How these cultural products slow down and stop progress in medical science? Alternatively, system where researchers, patients, venture capitalists, and their facilitators voluntarily trade. How such system leads to astonishing progress in medical science? Further, it also shows how reason can be used to overcome misunderstanding, or reach certainty in human relationships if people have an overall positive view of themselves and of other men.

CHARACTERS

1. Galileo : Very efficient in managing network that works in medical innovations. Network's recruitments and secrecy are pursued very skilfully by him. He is also very understanding and caring of people he values, and acts to help them whenever he thinks its required. He has a troubled past where he has lost his loved ones, and as a result he is conflicted and cautious in his present relationships, especially Romantic.

Purposeful action to achieve his long term, medium term, and short term goals being the defining feature of his character.

2. Natalie : Hard working, exceptionally intelligent, and very dedicated to her professional course. Very caring of her son, and of people like Zoe, Galileo, Helen, and others she gets to know and appreciate. Empathy also reflected towards small associations like her professional colleagues, and people she occasionally interacts with.

Defining characteristic being her courage to take risks after thinking about pros and cons in relation to her values, that is her work and her son.

3. Les Mahler : A bureaucrat convinced that genetic science will destroy the world, if not controlled by government. This idea leading him to vigorously pursue the network and its leader, and also contemplate killing an innocent child because of her genes. Willing to bend rules when official processes don't yield desired results, and use coercive threats and occasional bribery to get the work done by illegal means. As we later come to see, he has destructive agenda of his own, and will go to any lengths to destroy the things he does not like. At a deeper level we see that he is unwilling to take responsibility for his failures, and rationalizes his failed actions to blame someone else, mostly research scientists. And at deepest level, the hatred and paranoia comes from his inability to get over the bad childhood memories, bullies in particular.

Defining feature being his agenda to control scientific research in general, and Galileo's network in particular. Rationalization coming from the belief that he is saving earth's resources from overpopulation, virus called man etc.

4. Zoe : A girl affected by extremely rare genetic mutation, that makes her the target of medical science and political community. A passionate valuer when it comes to caring for her maternal grandfather, or for her own condition. Willing to go to any extent to fix the wrongs they are in. Develops inferiority complex because of the condition her body is in. Is naive in her initial understanding, but willing to learn about her condition in depth, about adolescence in general, genetic science, and the politics and ethics surrounding it.

Defining characteristic being her free spirit. Upholding independence of thought, values, and acting even in the face of extreme peril.

5. Granpa – Zoe's maternal grandfather : A very caring person when it comes to handling Zoe emotionally, her actions, and her relationship with parents. Has had very successful careers as athlete and physician. Has read good collection, and applies those learnings along with his experience to help Zoe. His understanding of Zoe's condition, and his willingness to help her in pursuit he thinks is right, being the defining characteristic.

6. Stephen Kincaid – Zoe's father : He comes out as very dominating figure, pushing his own flawed agenda onto his daughter. When things go out of control, and he later loses her, looks like he has realized his mistake.

7. Zoe's mother : She comes out as very noncommittal person, who does not seem to have any deep values. So ends up supporting whatever her husband says, and reacts with shallow emotions when things go wrong.

8. Theo : Son of Natalie whom she loves immensely. Very mature in handling relationships, whether its false news report related to Natalie, or handling tough situations while escaping to Network, or handling Zoe when she develops inner conflict within the campus. He has passion for computers and technology in general.

His deep understanding of relationships, and about growing up in general being the defining characteristic.

9. Julian : Physically weak but quite clever. Tactfully handles when questioned by Les and others about his links to the network.

PLOT

The tight plot full of twists and turns is the strongest aspect of the novel. Galileo and Zoe most times, and Natalie and Les sometimes being the movers of the plot. While the actions of Galileo move in the background, the actions of Zoe and Natalie are most visible in the initial part of the novel. Zoe motivated by the desire to discover and improve her condition, and to contribute to research that can help medical condition of Granpa. Natalie's passion to develop anti-aging techniques so that she can push ahead medical science, and also raising her son well, being the motivations that drive her and the plot. Like John Galt in Atlas Shrugged, Galileo comes into forefront of plot movement as the story progresses. Whether its deft handling of escape to the Network compound, arranging resources for driving research in the network, collecting and applying timely intelligence to secure secrecy of Network, or clarifying Zoe's insecurities. In each of the key moments he emerges as the man of clear thinking, quick and accurate decision making. A man of action, actions that are thought through. While Galileo most times is the prime mover, villain Les Mahler is also the mover. Whether its probing the moles of the Network in Columbia University, trying to track Natalie and kids when they escape, or later investigating the location of Network compound. Being a villain while he is dominantly irrational and brutal, there are elements of cleverness that drive the plot, particularly his blackmailing and occasional incentivizing of a hacker on parole.

STYLE

Content of the novel primarily belongs to Biotechnology in particular, and medicine in general. Explaining the technical terms and very specific processes of these lesser known fields I think is a major challenge. Use of metaphors like searching lighted weed in an ocean for finding master gene, or chromosomes and genes being like chapters and words of a book are the few examples where complex concepts are explained. Often Zoe is used as an archetype for normal reader being explained to. Also, from time to time Kira makes it a point to reveal motivations of characters for their actions. Whether its value driven actions of positive characters, or rationalization and fear driven actions of negative ones. Occasional impulses of positive characters like Zoe escaping the compound also have valid reasoning. So simplifying technical complexities, and providing motivations along with specific actions of characters forms the core of style elements in novel.

SENSIBILITIES

So far I have reviewed the major elements of this fiction work – theme, plot theme, characters, plot, and style. Going a step further I would now discuss the writer's “Sense of Life”. That is, what aspects of life and man she considers important.

Clearly there is lots of optimism for what science and technology can do, and validly so. Then there is appreciation of how reason can lead to understanding in human relationships, provided there is benevolent view of man, life and existence on both sides.

To elaborate on the finer aspects I would compare sensibilities to those in We The Living by Ayn Rand. Compared to We The Living, the hero is clearly much more stronger, almost approaching John Galt of Atlas Shrugged in his thoughts and actions. There is however a minor let down when it comes to heroine's view of Hero. Overall no doubt she revers his intelligence, his actions, and his style derived from these. But that makes conversation in “Chapter 21” even more painful. After cops leave Julian's house leave, Theo makes a really cheap joke. Sometime later Natalie lightly accuses Galileo of not laughing. Given the situation, I think the joke and remark could have been avoided. But at a deeper level, it seems that Kira Peikoff does not yet has a fully integrated view of Hero, especially the single minded persistence needed in the face of mortal danger. So in that sense, attitude of character Kira from We The Living towards Leo was much more reverential and consistent. From the theme perspective, the level of No Time to Die is political like We The Living. Impact of “Totalitarian State” on lives being the theme of latter. In No Time to Die however, the foundations of freedom in reason are explored to a much greater extent. Like the explanation of Galileo as to how Humans can adapt to progress like anti-aging technologies. In We The Living, while ethics of self-interest finds form in various actions, given the dark setup, scope for what reason means is limited. Further, the altruistic and irrational foundations of Les Mahler's coercive and violent actions is also explored in sufficient detail.

Another aspect I would like to explore is the view of evil, especially the fuel that drives it. In We The Living, Pavel Syerov is one of the main beneficiary of the Communist revolution. However, he didn't even participate in the main event that toppled the previous political establishment. It was misguided but honest people like Andrei who were the prime movers in that regard. Bottom line being, evil qua evil is impotent and requires “sanction of the good” consistently, to sustain itself. But actions of Les Mahler are fairly independent of good characters. That is, most of the times he can drive his tasks without any support from good characters. He does depend on Cylon the hacker a lot, but no way can he be classified as good. And Galileo, to move on is dependent on rational support of rational elements from the government that here is essentially evil. While John Galt also depended on actions of evil government bureaucrats and politicians in Atlas Shrugged. But he, Frisco, and others depended on irrational elements in the essentially corrupt system.

Though overall Les Mahler is a lot inferior to Galileo, but in complete scheme of things, he is not irrational enough.

Finally, I would comment on the view of invention in this novel. Natalie clearly spends most of the time, efforts, and risks in building anti-aging technology. But the primary breakthrough actually comes from Nina. So in this sense Nina is actually the main inventor, and Natalie is the one who just takes the invention to its logical conclusion, and gets the final credit. But any invention, and its basic trajectory ought to be the product of single mind. Enright House is Roark's, or Rearden metal belongs to Hank Rearden, no matter how many people are employed to build the final product. Even in real life, Macintosh, iPod, or iPhone are Steve Job's babies, given the history and trajectory of Apple. Seed idea of invention, as slightly hinted in the novel text, cannot and ought not be collective. The idea has to be an individual effort, even though final product requires multiple people.

Better approach should have been similar to the way Mark Zuckerberg discovers “Relationship Status” in the movie The Social Network. By getting Eureka moment when one of his friends is discussing relationships of their classmates.

To end this section on a personal footnote, one of my favorite line is the one which highlights the contemporary culture that blanks out genuinely heroic(read rational) actions. The line that emphasizes the point comes in Part 1, when twisted news of Natalie trying to exploit Zoe breaks out. It says that in perfectly sensational news stories, there are only victims and villains.

CONCLUSION

All in all, the plot of No Time to Die is rapidly moving, value driven, has suspense, and is therefore engaging. Characters are motivated, and therefore memorable. Style ties abstractions with corresponding concretes, and is therefore relatable. The theme and plot theme are contemporary and yet universal. This makes it an extremely relevant novel for a reader interested in adding spiritual fuel to his life. Looking forward to next novel in the series for more such fuel.

]]>14206Tue, 30 Dec 2014 09:36:00 +0000Recommendationshttp://forums.4aynrandfans.com/index.php?/topic/3966-recommendations/I hope this is the correct place to put this, I'm not sure where else it would go.

I am always looking for something to read. The problem is that I can't always find something good to read. I know of course that there is a ton of great literature out there, but my problem is finding and recognizing which books are the ones that are worth while to read. So I have called for assistance from all of the lovely Forum members who would be willing to come to my aid. For convenience I will include a list of some of my favorite books. Please suggest anything you can, I'll appreciate it greatly

War and Peace, most Ayn Rand (there are some books I haven't been able to get a hold of),1984, Animal Farm, and Les Miserables

These are a few of the books that I have read recently and particularly liked, please inform me of any suggestions that you have.

Thanks

]]>3966Mon, 03 Jul 2006 03:12:28 +0000Hunger for Atlantishttp://forums.4aynrandfans.com/index.php?/topic/14192-hunger-for-atlantis/ My 5 star review has been approved and published by Amazon of Pandora's novel, "Hunger for Atlantis". It's a very unusual form for a review to take, since it's written as a 3,350 word poem. If you find my review helpful, simply hit the "Yes" button after reading it, if you don't, then hit "No". It's important that you answer, though you don't have to. This book I take very seriously and regard it to be among the very finest and most important books one can read in Romantic Realism today. It was recently published.

I wish to draw your attention to the School for Self-Esteem. The School is an excellent example of thriving children. Much smarter than the average child, they develop because they are given the freedom to develop. No hands force them. There are no ‘Hands All Over’ making them disciplined. They discipline themselves. They work peacefully. They are free to choose. No one tells them what to do. No one should tell us what to do.

They were very quiet, going about their work with reverence. They treated the learning tools delicately, as if the tools were sacred icons. They selected objects from the shelves. When they were finished with didactic tools, they returned them, carefully placing the objects where they had found them. They talked quietly to others, in hushed tones, expressing their admiration for each other's work.

Professor Vandemeer thought that it seemed as if the workshop were not a part of a school - but that it were part of a temple. He thought that the children seemed happy, as if happiness came from work that they were doing. They were proud, as if pride came from how well they did their work. They weren't striving to outdo their peers, but as if they were trying to outdo themselves; from a standard or a measurement that did not come from a teacher, not from the others, not from external surroundings - but that came from within.

He was driven with the thought that one day he would achieve his objective; his mind was the only motive force he knew; his will had kept him up throughout the night, the tortuous days, the long years. He was driven by the pleasure of achieving according to his highest ability.

She simply wanted to be happy. She stood on the cold earth, on the unforgiving and unyielding earth. All she had was one simple desire: to do whatever was right.

Brock’s selection of paintings and sculptures at Sans Soucie portrayed a strong link to reality. A man looked like a man, a woman like a woman, a flower like a flower:—shapes of objects as they appeared in reality—knowable images. […] Every artistic image had a strong resemblance to real life.

Danicka had replied, “Mrs. Glasson, there are no such things as natural ideas already imprinted on the mind. The mind begins as an empty slate. You can’t awaken what’s not there.”

He loved his work. His rewards came from his sense of purpose, his accomplishments; and from his greatest tool: his mind.

One evening, she said to him, “Wouldn’t it be better to be happy today? Doing whatever you really love? Do it for yourself. Not others.” He studied her while she was speaking. “Like the children at the School for Self-Esteem. Shouldn’t you do it for yourself? Not for glory in the eyes of others. Use your mind to its greatest ability. Do it for the present moment. Wouldn’t that take care of the future? Do it today and tomorrow, everyday, one day after another. The future is just a collection of days. If you add up the days that you’re happy, you’ll be happy all along.

]]>14167Sun, 09 Feb 2014 18:41:32 +0000POVhttp://forums.4aynrandfans.com/index.php?/topic/14155-pov/Did Ayn Rand ever discuss POV in fiction writing? Most older literature used Third Person Omniscient, whereas most modern literature uses either Third Person Single POV or Third Person Multiple POV, meaning you only get one character's POV per scene. No "head hopping" in a single scene.

I read a brief analysis of Atlas Shrugged's POV, (unfortunately, I can't figure out how to post a link here, I can't even copy and paste here) which says it was written in Third Person Omniscient, although most scenes are still written from a single character's POV.

I'd still like to know what, if anything, Ayn Rand had to say about POV. Or perhaps Shoshana Milgram covered this in one of her lectures?

]]>14155Wed, 15 Jan 2014 05:05:17 +0000Shadows Live Under Seashells by Allan J. Ashinoffhttp://forums.4aynrandfans.com/index.php?/topic/14081-shadows-live-under-seashells-by-allan-j-ashinoff/Life on the Mars colonies of 2084 has been punctuated by occasional murders, bloody, gruesome and hideous. The Administration of Earth sends an “eductor” to solve the problem. As a child, Elliot Fintch was identified as “COT: Capable of Thought.” That gave him a privileged, middle class life, a nice apartment in the Phoenix Dome, an assigned wife, and meaningful work. He solves problems with intuition, insight, and flexible thinking not found in many other people. He enjoys his work.

He does not enjoy home life so much. He tries to love his wife of 25 years, but without children, home life has been lacking. Still, the artificial intelligences in his home, office, and car keep him from making mistakes by reminding him of the rules. Those same programs overheard the Fintches’ last argument, old and worn, nominally about nothing important yet coming back to their never having had children. The next morning, while Elliot is in the shower, his wife is removed, arrested for disloyalty. They tell him that she left of her own accord and filed for divorce. Sad as it leaves him, it was a long time coming. Flexible in his thinking, he adjusts as best he can while he wrestles with this new problem.

Allan J. Ashinoff’s dystopia is somewhere between Brave New World and 1984. In the middle third of the 21st century, the Administration came out of hiding to take over from the bankrupted nation states. Humanity was placed in huge Domes for the good of the planet. Now, diets are regulated; exercise is mandated. Public transportation might be by private vehicle for privileged people, but public it is nonetheless. Hopping into your own car to go cruising through the wilderness is unthinkable. You go where you are programmed to be, even if it is in the nominal privacy of a single cab, attended, as always, by a program that serves you on behalf of the Administration.

For those who fall aside by a chance comment or rash action, the Administration has invested special resources in reprogramming the old person into a new one. As Elliot Fintch rises off planet, his wife falls into ever lower status.

Ashinoff’s writing style is clear, concise, and lively. He invests a lot description and narration in the technology of the times. This is expected in the genre, and it does not detract. It is all very real and plausible given what we know we could accomplish today. Of course, as technology changes, people remain constant. And people – not technology - committed the murders on Mars.

This novel stands on its own; but it also rests on a set of short stories, Fallacies of Vision, set closer to our own time. Both are available as Kindle downloads on Amazon. (Shadows costs $4.99; Fallacies is 99 cents.) Not a Kindle person myself, I found it easy to put the software on my Macintosh and enjoy the reads. Ashinoff is clearly and consciously a political conservative. (We met on the “Galt’s Gulch” website of the Atlas Shrugged movie producers.) The opening story in Fallacies of Vision, “Erosion” won him undeserved condemnation from the Southern Poverty Law Center.

As part of my project to write a science fiction novel I am re-reading DORSAI! Yes, the exclamation point is part of the title. This is the first novel in a series of ubermensch fantasies by Gordon R. Dickson. I am reading it with the intent of deconstructing it as an example of military science fiction with mercenaries. My goal as a novelist is to create a depiction of the a similar band of mercenaries and show how a rational nation would be deal with them.

Here’s the first paragraph from the chapter titled MERCENARY III:

Returning again up the corridor toward the bow of the ship, Donal allowed himself to wonder, a little wistfully, about this incubus of his own strange difference from other people. He had thought to leave it behind with his cadet uniform. Instead, it seemed, it continued to ride with him, still perched on his shoulders. Always it had been this way. What seemed so plain, and simple and straightforward to himself, had always struck others as veiled, tortuous, and involved. Always he had been like a stranger passing trough a town, the ways of whose people were different, and who looked on him with a lack of understanding amounting to suspicion. Their language failed on the doorstep of his motives and could not enter the lonely mansion of his mind. They said “enemy” and “friend”; they said “strong” and “weak”–“them” and “us”. They set up a thousand arbitrary classifications and distinctions which he could not comprehend, convinced as he was that all people were only people–and there was very little to choose between them. Only, you dealt with them as individuals, one by one; and always remembering to be patient. And if you did this successfully, then the larger, group things came out right.

Can you understand that? Was Dickson an English Literature major at the U of M?

ASTOUNDING SCIENCE FICTION, the periodical that published this serially in 1959 did pay a penny a word. But this amount of barely incomprehensible verbiage is simply absurd.

Dickson attempts to recreate the European political environment prior to the Treaty Of Westphalia (1648), a time when the use of specifically raised and organized mercenary units was commonplace. Civil wars within what should be sovereign nation states are commonplace. Dickson also creates a moral nightmare. A universe where the Right Of Life is legally negated. An individual may be conscripted by the state and forced to work on another world in trade for another worker with knowledge in another field. Or die as cannon fodder in a foreign war. And the penalty for an individual who broke this so-called contract is death.

Dickson may not have understood the concept of government. But then he was a graduate of the University Of Minnesota.

What is very apparent when reading this and the other works in the series is that Dickson adopted a Platonist metaphysics. What passes for philosophy is a gibberish of Eastern Mysticism and Racial Collectivism along with the open practice of magic. In fact the overall plot of the series, such it was, is completely dependent on the occurrence of magical events. It would more accurate to describe this series as a work of fantasy instead of science fiction. In THE FINAL ENCYCLOPEDIA, Dickson actually wrote a scene set on the Platonic World Of Forms. And at the end of the initial novel Dickson has his protagonist literally commanding the antagonist to suffer. And the antagonist magically does so.

If reality is unreal in a fictional universe, why bother to write about it?
]]>13955Mon, 18 Feb 2013 11:08:46 +0000"The Match" by Quent Cordair Getting Stellar Reviews - Only 99 Centshttp://forums.4aynrandfans.com/index.php?/topic/14022-the-match-by-quent-cordair-getting-stellar-reviews-only-99-cents/I am especially proud to share that Quent Cordair’s latest short story, The Match, was published on May 15, 2013 and has already soared to #2 on Amazon’s Hot New Release list. (see attached image) As I write this post, Quent has received 22 stellar reviews. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CTWYBKC

If you enjoy well-written fiction that leaves you wanting to read more by the author, I highly recommend this story. All you need is 99 cents and the ability to carve about an hour out of your day. The reward is well worth the effort. If you do not own a kindle, Amazon offers a free reading app that allows downloads to your computer or smart phone.

5 Stars – “Quent Cordair writes boldly and beautifully and The Match is one of his best short stories.” – Michael Wilkinson

5-Stars – “I think of Quent Cordair's short stories as ‘red bull for the soul’ because they give me the same ‘desire to be active’ and ‘zest for life’ as that drink advertises. This story is much like his others in that way and I recommend it highly.”- Daniel Wahl

5-Stars – “Brilliant! If you've enjoyed any of Ayn Rand's novels, but are short on time and can't re-read Atlas Shrugged just now, this short story will tide you over.” – Adam Jensen

5-Stars – “Buy it. Read it. Prepare to be surprised.” – John Newnham

5-Stars – “What a delightful short story! There's a perfect symmetry that guides the reader through the discovery of the story. The plot is immensely satisfying as everything fits together in a way that makes sense and feels logically right. The vividly drawn characters and concretization of such powerful issues makes this short story a stirring experience. I highly recommend it as a read that offers fuel to the American spirit.” – Rachel Miner

]]>14022Sat, 01 Jun 2013 23:25:41 +0000"We" by Evgeny Zemyatinhttp://forums.4aynrandfans.com/index.php?/topic/13901-we-by-evgeny-zemyatin/In 1921 Evgeny Zemyatin completed a novel entitled "We" about a future dystopian totalitarian State. The protagonist of this novel is named D-503. The Dystopian state is name OneState and every one lives in glass houses all the better to be observed by officers of OneState. There is a love triangle in this novel and D-503 eventually has a love affair that is Forbidden. The details of "We" are summarized in the wiki article at.

The novel was composed in Russian by Zemyatin, a Russian who later emigrated.

Now, my question. This is addressed to people who know some of the details of Ayn Rand's artistic endeavors. Did Ayn Rand ever read "We"? Recall that it was written in Russian early than her novel Anthem which was written in 1937. Is it possible that Rand borrowed some of Zemyatin's tropes? I am not implying plagerism here, so do not get upset with me.. We all borrow other people's ideas, at times, and rework them to fit our own views, needs and goals.

ruveyn

]]>13901Tue, 01 Jan 2013 15:59:07 +0000The Intellectual Bankruptcy of Modern Academiahttp://forums.4aynrandfans.com/index.php?/topic/12096-the-intellectual-bankruptcy-of-modern-academia/I have posted this thread because this discussion was brought up in an unrelated post, and I wished to continue the conversation.

The original post was in regards to a Fiction Writing Course that a member is trying to sell - he commented that a professor wasn't interested in buying it because it may be "out-of-date." Another user commented that he would purchase it precisely because of its outdatedness.

I replied this -

"Take any modern writing course and you'll hear a bunch of junk about "the human condition" and honing in on your "muse." "Experimental" Fiction is all the rage of the typical professional "intellectual." I had to read a book called "A Thousand Acres," where all of the main characters were manipulative liars, and their dad - who was supposedly a hard-working farmer - raped them when they were young girls. Most of the main characters ended up dying/committing suicide. The author liked to go on rants for two pages about the contents of a drawer. I told the professor that I didn't like the story because the theme suggested that all humans were depraved and inherently flawed. He replied something along the lines of, "I've never met anyone who wasn't." By the way, this book won the 1992 Pulitzer Prize.

I worked in the Writing Center of a public college for a year or so, and they call Ayn Rand a "second rate writer." One of them (an English professor) said that his life philosophy revolved around the statement, "Treat each other excellently, and party on dude." He was also a logic professor that attempted to convince me that reality was subjective, and that the creation of the rocket ship was an insignificant accident."

Another user replied, who I welcome to repost his reply on this thread.

In reply to his post:

Those things used to bother me severely - I would argue with them for 30+ minutes in an attempt to convince them that they were wrong. I finally realized that it was a waste of my time and energy, and told them that I didn't wish to have any more conversations with them. Most of the people there absolutely disliked me because they knew that I was a student of Objectivism - one of my fellow student workers posted an article in the back room that proposed a sad excuse of a critique of Ayn Rand (lots of ad hominem, straw man arguments - an article from the 1960s) to harrass me. Another one of the tutors was talking about "arrogance," and snidely commented to me "What do you think about people thinking that they're better than others, CADENCE?" (They liked to poke fun at me because I changed my name recently; it was also a personal attack, because I wasn't "buddy-buddy" with them because I didn't have respect for them; I was just polite, whereas everyone else acted like they were all best friends). I said - "It depends on whether they deserve to." She replied angrily "ANYONE WHO ACTS LIKE THAT IS JUST HORRIBLY INSECURE AND HAS SOMETHING TO HIDE." I wonder if she realized that the only thing that that statement accomplished was revealing something very embarrassing about her character.

Before I decided that I didn't respect him, the logic professor (he was quite a fraud, like a less intelligent Ellsworth Toohey) and I had a discussion/disagreement about art. I was not very articulate on the subject, but I said that I didn't like such and such poem because it had an ugly message. I said something along the lines of, I don't understand why someone would write with such a beautiful style, but have such an ugly message. He said something like - judging theme over style is elementary and amateur (he said it in a much calmer, more "nice" way - he always was concerned with trying to make people think that he was this calm, nice, open-minded guy).

When I first started reading the Fountainhead (it was the first thing that I read by Ayn Rand), I asked one of the Writing Tutors what he thought about it (I had a certain level of respect for the before I started actually having standards to judge people). His reply was that she was a "fascist" (? I don't understand where people come up with this accusation) and a "terrible writer" (he liked William Faulkner - who I think has a hideous sense of life) The next conversation that I had with him, he ended up storming out of the room, telling me that I'd "learn when I get older." ANOTHER tutor, who happened to be a lawyer and a Harvard graduate (supposedly), claimed that he liked Ayn Rand once but eventually "learned" that "the real world" isn't "like that." It's like I was working with a bunch of immature teenagers with degrees.

Does anyone have any thoughts about modern professional intellectuals, or any experiences to share? Why is this such a common attitude among alleged "intellectuals"? I find it ridiculous that I am more intelligent and integrated at 21 than 50 year olds who have been studying and reading for most of their adult lives.

]]>12096Wed, 21 Jul 2010 14:47:17 +0000My next readhttp://forums.4aynrandfans.com/index.php?/topic/13857-my-next-read/So, I've read "The Virtue of Selfishness", "Capitalism, the Unknown Ideal", all of Ayn Rand's fiction work, and Yaron Brook's "Free Market Revolution". I just bought "Objectivism, The Philosophy of Ayn Rand" by Leonard Peikoff, but I'm not sure if I should read it next or get something different. I was considering "Philosophy, Who Needs It?" by Ayn Rand.

]]>13832Sun, 28 Oct 2012 20:36:12 +0000How book publishers censor themselves. They win the "noball" prizehttp://forums.4aynrandfans.com/index.php?/topic/13767-how-book-publishers-censor-themselves-they-win-the-noball-prize/Here is an article from the Huffington Post indicating how book publishers are chicken to publish any book that might "offend" Islam. The commentator distinguishes between the pre-Rushdie days and the post-Rushdie days, When Salman Rushdie published -Satanic Verses- the publisher went through with the publication and distribution regardless of the fatwa issued against Rushdie and Islamic death threats made to book store operators if they carried the book.

The commentator contrasts this to a book that was cancelled by the publisher recently, because some academic said the book might "offend" Muslims.

See this for your self. There is a 2.5 minute video that makes the above points very clearly

The Second Renaissance release had serious audio issues, so these seems to be a great alternative.

]]>13712Tue, 24 Jul 2012 16:41:09 +0000New Short Story Collection Released by Quent Cordairhttp://forums.4aynrandfans.com/index.php?/topic/13662-new-short-story-collection-released-by-quent-cordair/Your patience has been rewarded! A selection of short stories and poems by acclaimed writer Quent Cordair from two decades of early work, including stories originally selected for publication by *The Atlantean Press Review* and *ART Ideas* is now available on Amazon.

]]>13662Thu, 14 Jun 2012 23:44:43 +0000A line from THE MAN WHO LAUGHShttp://forums.4aynrandfans.com/index.php?/topic/13648-a-line-from-the-man-who-laughs/During a move, I misplaced my copy of Victor Hugo's The Man Who Laughs and I can't find it. I'm trying to remember the exact line from the novel that warns of approaching dictators, something like: "You know a tyrant is about to take power when the state begins to require a license for every kind of service or product." That's what we've been seeing in this country for the last few decades.

Does anyone remember the exact line (and where in Hugo's book I can locate it when I get my next copy)? I'd sure like to be able to quote it, since Victor Hugo said it better than anyone else would have.

]]>13648Sun, 03 Jun 2012 17:25:14 +00005 Star Reviews for Quent Cordair's Storieshttp://forums.4aynrandfans.com/index.php?/topic/13564-5-star-reviews-for-quent-cordairs-stories/Writer and artist Quent Cordair is receiving great reviews on his recently released short stories. Three are currently available on Amazon for only 99 cents and those will be followed shortly by a collection of short stories and eventually his much anticipated novel.

One of his latest, "Sheltered," is #31 in the short-stories category on Kindle; #45 in short-stories on all of Amazon.

The stories can be downloaded to Kindles or to almost any device using Amazon's free reading app making them perfect for a lunch break escape, waiting room reading, commute entertainment, etc.

]]>13564Wed, 28 Mar 2012 19:43:00 +0000The Daedalus Conspiracyhttp://forums.4aynrandfans.com/index.php?/topic/13312-the-daedalus-conspiracy/GOOD NEWS! Ed Cline has just made available the first half of his new Cyrus Skeen detective novel on Kindle:

Don't own a Kindle device? No problem. Just download the free Kindle for PC application.

This is Ed's first wholly new fiction since he finished the great "Sparrowhawk" series! Several other recently published works of his were actually written in the 1980s, before he started work on "Sparrowhawk."

From the description:

Cyrus Skeen, private detective in 1929 San Francisco, is asked by Charles Gilchrest, chairman of The Daedàlus Society, an exclusive men-only club, to go to the The Daedàlus Grove, a private estate north of the city, to determine the nature of some trouble he has been warned about in a cryptic note written by an anonymous member. The note alludes to a controversial Senator from Nebraska and a tariff bill in Congress. It may or may not be a serious threat to the man’s life. It may well predict a fraternity-like prank, or something more serious. The chairman is not sure and wishes to identify the threat and possibly the author of the note. Skeen agrees to attend the two-week encampment of the Society in rustic Monte Rio, an annual event in the redwood forest with a reputation of Dionysian orgies and behind-the-scenes conspiracies to govern the nation. Posing as a writer, at first Skeen feels out of his natural element of the city, but he soon begins to focus on certain individuals and their peculiar behavior, and begins to collect clues. His presence arouses the enmity of many of the eight hundred attendees of the encampment.

Thank you for all the warm and wonderful birthday greetings. I had a lovely day today and I am looking forward to a productive next year of life. (Yes, JohnRgt, the book is coming along, but slowly. I'll do my best to make it worth the wait.)

May I ask what book that is?

ruveyn

]]>13367Mon, 10 Oct 2011 11:31:23 +0000Objectivist author Quent Cordair releases new fiction - "Sheltered"http://forums.4aynrandfans.com/index.php?/topic/13348-objectivist-author-quent-cordair-releases-new-fiction-sheltered/After a long hiatus while he works on completing his novel, Quent Cordair has released a new short story on Amazon which can be downloaded on to Kindles, computers and smart phones for only 99 cents. "Sheltered" is newly published and has never been available anywhere before now, including the Quent Cordair Fine Art web site.

Description:

“A year and six days underground without sunlight or breeze or contact with the world above—whatever might be left of the world above. A year and six days without touch, without unrecorded voice, without contact, without friends or family. If only they had listened, if only they had been ready. But he—he had prepared. He was Reginald B. Wakefield, and he hadn’t died. A wave of vindication washed over him, lifting and sweeping away all doubt and fear. He had been right. He raised his eyes again to the hatch cover above. . . . He had been right.”

In increasingly uncertain times, how does one respond to rising fears of impending disaster and societal breakdown? In “Sheltered,” the timely short story by Quent Cordair, one man follows his own course in the face of rising costs.

Quent and I would love to hear from you, especially if you enjoy the story. If you are so inclined, please leave him a review on the Amazon page. Thanks and happy reading!

]]>13314Mon, 12 Sep 2011 23:44:28 +0000Quent Cordair publishing fiction on Amazonhttp://forums.4aynrandfans.com/index.php?/topic/13308-quent-cordair-publishing-fiction-on-amazon/In the months leading up to the release of his much anticipated novel, Quent Cordair has begun to publish his short stories on Amazon. The first short story, "A Prelude to Pleasure" is getting rave reviews and has made the #6 spot on Amazon's "Hot New Releases" list. Quent's story can be downloaded for 99 cents to Kindles as well as to computers and smart phones via a free Kindle app.

"A Prelude to Pleasure" is the tale of how a man of accomplishment and wealth goes about finding his true love--and what he discovers along the way, with the help of a boy who reminds him of who he once was.

One reviewer said, "The characters are nicely drawn and the dramatic tension unfolds according to a clever, inexorable logic: Will the hero ruin his life with a bad decision -- or have the courage to make the right decision?"

Quent will be publishing many of his short stories on Amazon over the coming months. This one is sure to wet your appetite and leave you wanting more.

If you enjoy the story, please leave Quent a review on the Amazon page.

I'm interested in finding out if anyone has discovered, in novels, plays or films outside of the work of Ayn Rand, illustrations of the fact that a bad idea--a false premise--can put your life in danger or even kill you.

So far, I can only think of examples from the movies:

--In the film musical Oliver! (1968), Bill Sykes' wife Nancy, who is dominated and often physically abused by him, sings the song "As Long as He Needs Me". That idea gets her killed. When she crosses the line and does something he would forbid, he kills her.

--In the film Gallipoli (1981), one of the lead characters meets his fate at the battle of Gallipoli during World War I because of an idea: that being a man and a patriot only means putting one's physical life on the line. He does so, fatally.

--In the film, Patch Adams (1998), the idea of self-sacrifice ultimately results in the death of a medical student who deems it her duty to help anyone, no matter what their "affliction". (It is true that the idea of self-sacrifice as the good is never explicitly stated.)

--In the film, The Nun's Story (1959, with Audrey Hepburn), the twin ideas of self-sacrifice and forgiveness end the life of a nun serving in the Belgian Congo in a particularly shocking scene. (Once again, the argument for self-sacrifice is not explicitly delineated.)

]]>13197Sun, 10 Jul 2011 17:45:01 +0000A Couple of Suggestionshttp://forums.4aynrandfans.com/index.php?/topic/13169-a-couple-of-suggestions/Here are two books a good friend recommended. I quite enjoyed them both, and in many ways they're prophetic for our times:

John Ringo, The Last Centurion

Some time in the very near future, U.S. troops have been abandoned in Iraq as a global epidemic wipes out most of humanity, a new ice age commences, and politically correct politicians add to the death toll. The task of overcoming all these obstacles and getting the troops out falls upon the training, discipline, determination, and, most of all, ingenuity of a lieutenant known as Bandit 6.

In the early 22nd century, Europe has long since been conquered from within by Islam. The world is divided into two camps, the Muslim global caliphate and the American Empire. To stop a potentially population-eradicating biological weapon, CIA agent John Hamilton must infiltrate the former Germany. At the same time, Petra, a young girl who along with her brother has been sold into slavery because her family could not afford the tax on non-Muslims, follows the journal of her great grandmother, a German who lived in our very near future, just before the full Muslim takeover of Europe. Their paths cross in the end.